formal methodsMathematically based techniques for the {specification}, development and verification of software and hardware systems. {Referentially transparent} languages are amenable to symbolic manipulation allowing {program transformation} (e.g. changing a clear inefficient specification into an obscure but efficient program) and proof of correctness. {Oxford FM archive (http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/archive/formal-methods.html)}. (1996-05-15)